Crossposted with permission:
Hi All,
In May, 2001, some of the list members on a list about aquarium plants were discussing the poor service from a specific online pet supply establishment. The owner, acting as his own attorney, is suing them for FIFTEEN MILLION DOLLARS!!!
Frivolous or not, it costs bigtime bucks to defend lawsuits, so a defense fund was established. The guy then proceeded to sue the promoters of the defense fund as well. Since when can a dissatisfied customer not discuss poor service with his peers? Mind you, this poor service is documented with the Better Business Bureau. Since when is it a suable offence to contribute money to defend a civil (or for that matter, any other kind of) lawsuit?
For more detailed information, go to
http://www.thedefensefund.com. Read the material, follow up and then decide for yourself. That is all I am asking you to do. Not so much after, all, eh? While you're cruising, you might want to take the time to visit Gregory's site as well (
www.myfishbox.com). I'm not a big-time fish person, tending to look at aquarium fish as catfood "on the hoof", so to speak, but it's a way cool site!
If after reading the evidence posted at the site, and checking out the sources (like BBB); IF this offends you as much as it does us, just help us spread the word. I'm making sure it is everywhere I frequent, but if you are typical, you belong to at least five other lists or groups in addition to the one where you found this notice, and you have at least 50 people on your personal mailing list. I'm not asking you to spam. Please do not post this to private groups without first getting permission. Please don't pass it as a chain letter. Please copy paste the body of the message so it doesn't weigh down inboxes with a bunch of forwards and >>>>>s <G>. If you mail it to a lot of people, please protect them by blind ccing their addies. We don't want to annoy people, we want them informed and interested in protecting their rights,the rights of these defendants, our rights, your rights! If you happen to have any MEDIA contacts, this sure could use some public awareness! If you know any attorneys in NEW YORK that do pro bono or who could otherwise help keep defense expenses down, it would be great if they could be made aware of this situation! Visit
http://www.thedefensefund.com
Over the years, I have heard many people express concern regarding Freedom of Speech over the internet. Here is a situation where it really applies! People of like interest discussing something that concerns them in appropriate places with appropriate access! Yet these are the people having to spend their money to defend their right to talk together. It could be you, People. It could be me.
Shannon
